Knitting machine



Jan. 15, 1929.

E. WILDT EI'AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 15, 1929.

E. WILDT ET AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed June v, 1928 :5 Sheds-Sheet 2 RWM @WSW 1 Jan. 15, 1929. 1,699,321

E. WILDT ET AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 7, 192a a Sheets-Sheet w 15; I S

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN WILD! AND HENRY HAROLD HOLMES, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed June 7, 1928, Serial No. 283,508, and in Great Britain January 3, 1927.

This invention consists in improvements in or relating to knitting machines, and while it has particular application to circular knitting machines, it is not limited thereto.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmeans for producing a pattern in the knitted fabric by a method of yarn-reversal or reverse-plating. The known method of reverse-plating entails feeding simultaneously to the needles two yarns which differ from one another in colour, appearance or character. The yarns are fed at different angles and/or heights so that one is brought to the front of the fabric and the other to the back. When their relative positions are reversed, that yarn which, up to the time of reversal, appeared on the front of the fabric, will be thrown to the back and vice versa. Patterns are produced by repeated reversals in this manner, and an advantage of producing a pattern by reverse-plating lies in the fact that as both yarns are knitted simultaneously, no loose or floating threads appear at the back of the lmitted fabric.

The invention is equally applicable, however, to a method in which only one of the yarns is knitted, while the other remains as a floating thread at the back. In a similar manner the pattern is produced by reversing the r lative positions of the yarns.

The term reverse-plating mechanism or reve se-plating where it occurs hereinafter and in the appended claims, is therefore to be understood as including not only a yarn-reversing mechanism or methodin which both yarns are knitted simultaneously, but also a mechanism or method in which only one yarn is knitted.

The invention consists, principally, in means which; for reversing the relative positions at which two yarns are to be fed to the needles. comprise a plurality of sinkers allotted one to each needle at which yarninterchange is to be effected, a jacquard device, and an operative connection between it and the sinkers.

The above and other features of the invention. will be apparent from the following description of a preferred example of reverseplating mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of one form of the invention applicable to a circular knitting machine having a fixed needle cylinder and a rotatable cam-box, the

'ed one in each to the needle cylinder;

Figure 2 shows, in section,-thetposition of assinker after it has been move from the position shown in Figure 3 to effect yarn-reversal, and

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevations respectively, similar to that in Figure 1, of two modified forms of the invention.

Like reference numerals indicate like in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring, first of all, to Figures 1 and 2, only portions of the needle cylinder, cambox and associated mechanism are illustrated, and a pattern-control mechanism for a relatively small group of needles only is shown. It will be appreciated that the pattern-controlling mechanism illustrated and now to be described can be duplicated at intervals around the machine wherever it is desired to be used so that, if necessary, every single needle in the whole cylinder can be associated with a set of selectors constituting part of the pattern-controlling mechanism.

In the pattern-controlling mechanism illustrated, each needle has appropriated to it a selector for controlling the reverse-plating mechanism, and all the selectors of a group are under the influence of a perforated jacquard band 10.

The selectors or sliders are indicated at 20 parts and are allocated one to each needle where the knitting is to be influenced by the pattern controlling (yarn-reversing) mechanism. All these selectors are actuated by the jacquard band 10 so as to be moved forwardly when selected thereby. That is to say, the jacquard band 10 passes over the slotted roller 21 into which springpressed pins 22, mountseleotor, can enter when selected to do so by a perforation in the jacquard band. The roller 21 has a plurality of longitudinal slots which will register in turn with, successive lines of perforations in the jacquard band. The roller is moved round step by step by Geneva stop mechanism comprising a toothed wheel 23, pin 24, worrnwheel 25, and worm 26. The worm is rotated by engagement between a bevel wheel 27 (Figure 1) fast on the worm spindle and a gear ring 28 which is rotated, in a manner to lge described later, in company with the cam- For each of the sliders 20, there is an intermediate sliding selector 30, there being,

tion. Consequently the jacquard band will receive intermittent stepped movements in relation to the pins 22. It will be understood that the mechanism is so timed that the band 10 receives one or more stepped movements in each rotation of the cam-box. The band is first stepped so as to present a line of perforations to a set of pins 22 when the sliders are in their most retracted positions.

' The completion of the stepped movement of the jacquard roller then moves those sliders which have been selected (i. e. those whose pins 22 have entered perforations in the band 10) towards the'c linder, and in the manner described hereina ter those selectors that are so moved willeflt'ect the reversal of the yarn just prior to the laying of the yarns in the respective needles.

The mechanism for effecting reverse-plating comprises a plurality of sinkers, one for each needle which is to particitate in reverseplating or yarn-interchange. In other words, there will be as many sinkers 100 as there are needles at which it is desired to be able to make a yarn-reversal.

Each sinker has a radially-projecting extension 101 formed with a downwardly-extending portion 102, which latter is forked to receive the upper end of a swinging verti-,

cal lever 103. There are as many levers 103 as there are sinkers, one such lever being allocated to each sinker.

Each lever 103 has a projection 104 of circular outline which is received in correspondingly-shaped tricks formed partly in each of upper and lower rings 105 and 106. The up per ring is secured to the lower one by bolts 107 spaced at intervals around it, and the "lower ring is secured to or constitutes a stationary part of the machine. Thelower extremity of each lever 103 is turned outwardly at 108 so as to be situated above and to be engageable with a vertically-movable plunger 109. There are as many plungers 1.09 as there are levers 103 so that for each needle at which it is desired to obtain thread-reversal,

there is a set of parts consisting of a selector 20, intermediate selector 30, plunger 109, lever 103 and sinker 100.

All the sinkers are guided in tricks in a fixed ring 110; the levers 103 are guided in tricks formed in rings 105 and 106; and the means of grub-screws 112 which are disposed at intervals around it and bear against the inner extremities of the walls of the plunger tricks.

Tension springs 113, one for each lever 103, tend always to pull the upper ends of the levers away from the needle cylinder. Thus, when the projections 31 are retracted clear of the plungers 109 (as in Figure 1) the latter will be held pressed downwardly by the action of the springs 113 on the levers 103. Under this condition, the sinkers will be moved'to the outer limit of their (radial) stroke. When, however, under the selection and influence of the jacquard card 10, a selector 20 and its companion intermediate selector 30 are moved inwardly towards the needle cylinder, the projection 31 of that intermediate selector will he forced under its appropriate plunger 109 and the sinker 100 associated with it is moved inwardly to the position shown in Figure 2.

Each sinker is formed with a recess 114 and a nose 115overhanging the recess. Assuming that before inward movement of any individual sinker, the two yarns 116 and 117 are being carried round by their yarn feeders so that they assume the positions shown in Figure 1 in relation to that sinker, it will be understood that when the sinker is moved inwardly, the nose 115 engages the yarn 117 while the yarn 116 passes into the recess 11 1 as shown in Figure 2. By reference to these two figures, it will be"- appreciated that the relative position of the yarns is thus reversed, and this reversal can be effected at any needle in accordance with the lay-out of the jacquard card. When the sinker is moved back again, to its outermost position, the yarns reassume their relative positions indicated in Figure 1.

In order to return the sinkers to their outward position, a return cam is provided in a rotating cam ring 118, and the latter is revolved around the cylinder axis synchronously with the cambox and yarn guides. Cams 80 and 81 will be employed to return the selectors 20 and 30 respectively. The driving gear for the mechanism according to Figures 1 and 2 is not shownin detail, but it will be understood that any preferred gearing may be employed to drive the moving parts such as the cam-box and yarn guides, cam ring 118, cams such-as 80 and 81, and jacquard mechanism.

for this normal reciprocation will be afabout to take the yarn.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 3,

. the intermediate selector is moved into the ath of a cam by the selector, such as 20, and 15 thereby actuated to move the appropriate sinker. I11 the form illustrated. instead of an intermediate selector 30 and a separate plunger 109, there is now one element 200 which combines these two features. When, therefore, a selector 20 is moved forwardly, the intermediate selector 200 is moved into the path of a lifting cam 2010f fixed height, thereby tilting the swinging lever 103 to move the sinker in the manner above described. The intermediate selectors 200 and their associated selectors 20 are returned by means of return cams 81 and 80, as in the previous example. r

In Figure 4, a further modification is illustrated in which only a single lever 103 is provided for operating all the sinkers. Consequently, only a single plunger 109' is re quired, and these two members are moved successively into operative relation with each of the sinkers. The up er end of the lever 103 will normally be held outwardly away from the needle cylinder by means of the spring 113, and in this position it will pass through the forks at the tails of the 'sinkers without moving them radially, except in the case of those sinkers in which a jacquard slider and intermediate selector are moved forwardly by the jacquard mechanism. \Vhen such intel-mediate slider is reached by the plunger, it

will ride over the projection 31 and thus tilt the lever 103 so as to move its upper end inwardly, and with it the sinker that it has at that moment engaged. The latter is the sinker which will be appropriate to the selector chosen by the jacquard. band. The plunger 109 is at its lower end: preferably formed with a chiselv The invention as to its details of construction, arrangement and application is capable of many IDOdIfiCatIOHS.

For instance, although the invention has been described as applied to a machine hav-- ing a revolvingcam-box, it can, with modifications readily understood to those conversant with the manufacture and design of knitting machines, be applied to a machine having a revolving needle cylinder.

or wedge-shaped ex tremity in order to permit of its rapid movea projection, such as 31,

lace during the short time" In the examples illustrated herein, the jacquard-controlled mechanisms have been shown as applied to a sector only of the machine. Sim1lar mechanism may be positioned around the periphery of the machine so that the stitches at all the needles, or predetermined groups of them, are controlled in the manner described. It is not essential that knitting at everyindividual needle in,

the cylinder should be sub 'ect to the pattern control, as the latter may e applied only at those needles or groups of needles where such control is desirable. Where, therefore, it has been stated hereinabove that a pluralit of selectors are employed and are allocate respectively one to each needle or group thereof,

it is to be understood that such a statement is intended to include the arrangement in which the stitches at a cert-ainnumber only of the needles in the machine are to be subject to the pattern control and not the whole number thereof: but Where stitches are to be subject to the control, then there will be a plurality of selectors for those needles allocated in the manner above-mentioned.

The invention is not limited in its application to circular knitting machines, as e uivalent mechanism can be applied to knitting machines other than those of the circular type. H M

The invention has been described only in regard to the particular mechanism for actu ating and controlling the reverse-plating de- I vices. It is to .be understood that other control means, which are ciistomary or requisite and are known in the industry, may or will be employed in accordance-with the type and purpose of the machine to which the present invention is applied. I

The driving device for the jacquard element, the arrangement and actuation of the selectors andot-her co-operating portions are very similar to the corresponding arrangements now known lar to those in the co-pending application No. 283,507 to which reference may behad for a more comprehensive description of these parts. 4

It is to be understood that in combination with the reverse scribed herein, there can be employed any preferred mechanism forchanging the needle action, for example for producing tuck de and in use, as well as simi plating mechanism de-.

signs simultaneously with the yarn reversal.

One such mechanism has been described in our British Patent No. 283,609, and as this mechanism has been set out in great detail in the said patent, it is unnecessary to describe it again herein. Other known forms of stitch control can, however, be employed, if preferred.

We claim 4 1. In a knitting machine, the combination of yarn-reversing means operable in relation connection comprising a to two yarns and comprising a pluralit of sinlters allotted. one to each needle at which yarn-interchange is to be eltected, and each sinker mounted to move in a radial direction with respect to the needle cylinder, a jacquard device, and an operative connection between it and the sinkers, said operative plurality of selectors which co-operate with the jacquard device, a selector-controlled actuating member movable under the influence of its associated selector, and a bell-crank interposed between a sinker and the selector-controlled actuating member, the latter being movablei-n a direction transverse to that in which the sinker moves.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination of yarn-reversing means ope able in relation to two yarns and comprising a plurality of liti ainkers allotted one to each needle at which yarninterchange is to be effected, and each sinker mounted to move in a radial direction with respect to the needle cylinder, a jacquard device, and an operative connection be tween it and thesinkers, said operative connection comprising a plurality of selectors which are individually selectable by the jac" quard device and are allocated respectively to specific needles whereby each selector always co-operates only with its own needle, a plurality of intermediate selectors one for each selector, a plunger actuated by said intermediate selector, and a bell-crank interposed. between a sinker and the plunger, the latter being movable in a direction transverse to that in which the sinker moves.

3., in a knitting machine, the combination oi? yarn-reversing means operable in relation to two yarns and comprising a plurality of sinliers allotted one to each needle, a acquard device, an operative connection between it and said sinlrers, said operative connection comprising a pluralityof selectors which are individually selectable by the jacquard device, intermediate selectors allocated to and movable with each selector during selection by the jacquard device, and a plunger compristermediate selectorsand the reversing means and movable in a direction that is transverse to that in which the intermediate selectors are moved during selection by the jacquard clement.

4t. in a knitting machine, the combination of yarn-reversing means operable in relation to two yarns and comprising a plurality of sinkers allotted one to each needle, a jacquard device, an operative connection between it and said sinkers, said operative connection comprising a plurality of selectors which are individually selectable by the jacquard device, intermediate selectors allocated to and movable with each selector during selection by the jacquard device, and a plurality of plungers which are each movable in a direction that mg an operative connection between said in.

is transverse to that in which the intermediate selectors are moved during selection by the jacquard element.

5. In a knitting machine, the combination of yarn-reversing means operable in relation to two yarns and comprising a plurality of sinkers allotted one to each needle at which yarn-reversal is to take place, a jacquard device, and an operative connection between it and said sinkers, said operative connection comprising a plurality of selectors which are individually selectable by the jacquard device, intermediatc selectors allocated to and movable with each selector, and a plurality of plunger-s allocated one to each intermediate selector and each formed in one piece with its appropriate intermediate selector, and means operable on said intermediate sclectors to actuate the plunger portions when the selectors have been moved to the selected position with the aid of thejacqnard device.

6. In a knitting machine, the combination of yarn-reversing means operable in relation to two yarns and comprising a plurality of sinker-s allotted one to each needle at which yarn-interchange is to be effected, a jacquard device comprising a perforated element, an operative connection between it and the sinkers comprising a plurality of selectors which have projections to enter perforations in the jacquard element and which are associated with a plunger movable in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the selectors during selection and with a bell crank interposed between the plunger and the sinkers.

7. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of the needle cylinder, a plurality of sinkers located adjacent the upper end of the cylinder, a jacquard device located substantially opposite the lower end of the needle cylinder, and an operative connection between the jacquard device and the sinkers comprising a plurality of selectors also located sub stantially opposite the lower end of the needle cylinder and which are individually selectable by the jacquard device and are allocated respectively to specific needles, and means for translating change in position of the selectors into motion of the respective sinkers, said means being located outside the needle cylinder.

8. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, yarn-reversing means comprising a plurality of sinkcrs loated adjacent the upper end of the cylinder, a acquard device having a pattern extending substantially tangentially of the needle cylinder substantially opposite the lower end thereof, and operating connections between the pattern and the sinkers comprising a plurality of selectors individually selectable by the jacquard device, allocated respectively to specific needles, and extending from the pattern toward the needle cylinder in substandevice'and an oper tion comprisin a plurality of movable selec-' tors controlled the jacquard device and located substantially at a single lane different from but substantially paralle to said plane of the sinkers, and lever transmitting mechanism to translate change of position of the selectors into movement by the respective sinkers.

In testimony whereof we have names to this specification EDWIN WILDT. I HENRY HAROLD HOLMES.

signed our 

